With four energetic boys all under the age of six, finding outlets for their boundless energy can be a challenge. We decided to take part in our first family 5K, which encouraged participants of all ages to join in the fun, dressed as superheroes to support cancer awareness. My boys were thrilled to don their ninja turtle costumes. Each participant received a shiny red cape, the weather was absolutely delightful, and the boys reveled in the cheers from runners lapping back to us on their way to the finish line. It was a fantastic day—almost flawless.
However, it seems that every outing serves as a reminder of how much of a burden my large family is perceived to be. Let me elaborate. As we approached the finish line, we heard someone behind us shout, “Thanks for taking up the whole lane. I appreciate it!” Out of curiosity, we turned around, as we were definitely not blocking the entire path. I was walking on the far right, carrying the baby, while my husband was ahead, pulling two boys in a wagon, and one was riding his bike a small distance in front of us. There was ample space to our left, and we were really only taking up two spots.
When we looked back, this man was quite a distance behind us and repeated his comment, clearly aimed at us. We thought he might be joking. My husband asked, “Are we in your way?” The man sped past on our left, retorting, “Yeah, thanks a lot.” I called after him, “This is a family event for cancer awareness!” but he ignored me and crossed the finish line a few yards ahead. My husband attempted to confront him afterward, but he walked away, leaving us both frustrated. The ride home was spent dissecting the incident.
This is a recurring theme in our lives. There was the time a man on his cell phone scolded us for taking too long to choose some canned crab while we pushed our overloaded cart through the grocery store. Or the moment I was berated for taking too long to strap all four boys into their car seats by a man impatiently waiting for my parking spot. It’s clear to me now just how much of a threat we pose to society. So, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincerest apologies.
- I apologize for not considering you, the complete stranger, when planning my family.
- I regret that your needs weren’t prioritized above my own.
- I’m sorry that my car safety measures don’t enhance your parking experience.
- I also apologize for those oversized multi-child carts at stores that can feel like navigating a Zamboni down the aisles, thus encroaching on your precious space.
- And to that dedicated runner, I sincerely apologize if my audacity to bring my children to a family 5K delayed your remarkable 59-minute finish time. How inconsiderate of me!
Clearly, I have much to learn. If you wish to keep my family away from public spaces and out of your local grocery store, please sign the petition at www.gokickrocks.com. With your support, we can ensure that large, joyful families with adorable children remain at home, allowing us to focus on assisting the elderly and disabled.
This article was originally published on September 16, 2014.
If you’re interested in exploring more about family journeys, check out our other blog posts, including one about couples navigating their fertility journey through intracervical insemination at Make a Mom. For further resources on pregnancy and home insemination, visit NHS. Additionally, find out more about raising awareness for infertility at Raising Awareness for Infertility.
In summary, my large family may cause some inconvenience, but we are just trying to participate and enjoy life. Understanding and patience go a long way in making public spaces welcoming for everyone.